SXSW Line Up: Not Great for Women Directors

By
Kerensa Cadenas
|
Women and HollywoodFebruary 4, 2013 at 9:31AM

Fresh on the heels of Sundance is SWSX’s film line up. While there are some awesome women-directed films featured such as Sini Anderson's documentary, The Punk Singer, about Kathleen Hanna, unlike Sundance, I’m sad to say, the numbers for women directors aren’t great. Out of the 16 films in the Narrative/Documentary Feature Competition, there are 4 (2 and 2) directed by women. The numbers run low in all categories with no women-directed or written films in the Headliners category to a “high” of 4/18 directed by women in the Narrative Spotlight category and 4/16 in the Visions category.

Fresh on the heels of Sundance is SXSW’s film line up. While there are some awesome women-directed films featured such as Sini Anderson's documentary, The Punk Singer, about Kathleen Hanna, unlike Sundance, I’m sad to say, the numbers for women directors aren’t great. Out of the 16 films in the Narrative/Documentary Feature Competition, there are 4 (2 and 2) directed by women. The numbers run low in all categories with no women-directed or written films in the Headliners category to a “high” of 4/18 directed by women in the Narrative Spotlight category and 4/16 in the Visions category.

This year’s 8 films were selected from 905 submissions. Each film is a World Premiere.

Los Wild Ones - Director: Elise Salomon

Wild Records is an indie label reminiscent of the early days of Sun Records. The label is based in LA and run by Reb Kennedy aka Mr. Wild Records and is comprised of young Latin musicians who write and perform 50s Rock n Roll. (World Premiere)

Touba - Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

With unprecedented access and dynamic 16mm cinematography, Touba reveals a different face of Islam by chronicling Sufi Muslims' annual pilgrimage to the city of Touba. (World Premiere)

NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT

High profile narrative features receiving their World, North American or U.S. Premieres at SXSW.

Grow Up, Tony Phillips - Director/Screenwriter: Emily Hagins

A comedy about a Halloween-obsessed high school senior who doesn’t think childhood passions should have an expiration date.

Lizzie, married and longing for a child, can’t conceive. Her best friend, Andie, single and lacking any maternal instincts, gets pregnant from a one-night-stand and offers to give her baby to Lizzie, testing the relationships of everyone involved.

Shining a light on new documentary features receiving their World, North American or U.S. Premieres at SXSW.

The Network (Australia, UK) - Director: Eva Orner

Set behind the scenes at the largest television network in one of the most dangerous places on earth: Afghanistan. (World Premiere)

Spark: A Burning Man Story - Directors: Steve Brown, Jessie Deeter

What happens when you allow yourself to act on your dreams? Spark takes us behind the curtain with organizers and participants of Burning Man, revealing a year of unprecedented challenges and growth. (World Premiere)

VISIONS

Audacious, risk-taking artists in the new cinema landscape that demonstrate raw innovation and creativity in documentary and narrative filmmaking.

ELENA (Brazil) - Director: Petra Costa

Elena moves to NY with the dream of becoming a movie actress. She leaves behind Petra, her 7- year-old sister. Years later, her sister Petra goes to NY to look for Elena. (North American Premiere)

An iconic actor and passionate musician in his intimate moments, with film clips from some of his 250 films and his own heart-breaking renditions of American folk songs. (U.S. Premiere)

Maidentrip - Director: Jillian Schlesinger

An intimate coming-of-age adventure set against the epic backdrop of the open sea, Maidentrip explores life through the eyes of 14-year-old Laura Dekker on her quest to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone. (World Premiere)

Our Nixon - Director: Penny Lane

Recently discovered Super 8 home movies filmed by three of Richard Nixon’s closest aides – and fellow Watergate conspirators – offer an intimate and complex new glimpse into his presidency in this all-archival documentary. (North American Premiere)

24 BEATS PER SECOND

Showcasing the sounds, culture and influence of music and musicians, with an emphasis on documentary.

What happened to Kathleen Hanna? The Punk Singer - a feature-length documentary about the musician (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre) and feminist icon - tells the story of where she’s been, and where she is now. (World Premiere)

SX GLOBAL

A diverse panorama of international filmmaking talent, including premieres, interactive documentaries and shorts.

And Who Taught You To Drive? (Germany) - Director: Andrea Thiele

An American in Tokyo, a Korean in Bavaria, and a German in Mumbai: Prepare for a real culture clash when you have to pass your driving test again in another country ... A real life comedy. (North American Premiere)